Conservation Treatment of the Printing Woodblocks with Inscription of “Hunmongjahoe” in the Collection of the Pusan National University Museum

Abstract

Printing woodblocks with inscription of “Hunmongjahoe”, in the collection of the Pusan National University Museum, is engraved the “Hunmongjahoe” written by Se-jin Choi who is a translator at the reign of King Joongjong of the Joseon Dynasty on the woodblocks, and it is consists of totally 52 pieces of ‘In’, ‘Sang’, ‘Jung’ and ‘Ha’. A conservation treatment was performed because a number of damage to the woody part due to insect damage was confirmed on above woodblocks. A number of traces presumed as the insect holes generated by harmful insects were observed on the surface and inside of the woodblocks as a result of X-ray inspection to determine the approximate size of damage by insects prior to the conservation treatment. In addition, all 52 pieces were identified as Acer spp. as a result of species identification to confirm the tree species used in the woodblocks production. 3D Scan was conducted for digital recording and precise measurement of Printing woodblocks with inscription of “Hunmongjahoe” after the pre-treatment survey and analysis, and it was possible to produce various size-specific end pieces as a result of it. The conservation treatment of woodblocks were performed in the order of cleaning, consolidation treatment, edge of a woodblocks manufacturing and assembly, and it was possible to stably preserve and treat woody part which were degraded and peeled off due to the insects as a result of applying above conservation treatment method.